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Report: “Accelerating Clinical Research in Brazil” Seminar

A report on our “Accelerating Clinical Research in Brazil” Seminar, run with the support of the Consulate General of Switzerland, in São Paulo.

On Monday, May 15, 2017, Clinerion ran a seminar on “Accelerating Clinical Research in Brazil” with the support of the Consulate General of Switzerland, in São Paulo.

The event was very well attended and featured speakers across the field of clinical research, which included the Brazilian association for Clinical Research, Aliança; the Patient Society of Multiple Sclerosis, ABEM; the iHealth Group; and the International Clinical Trial Center Network, ICN.

Attendees included representatives from several public and private hospitals, the president of the Brazilian Federal University Hospitals Network (EBSERH), CROs and pharmaceutical companies.

The event allowed the attendees to exchange and discuss the great, new opportunity for the Brazilian clinical research community to expand its role as a major world player in the field of clinical research with the passing of the "PL200" law in the Brazilian Senate; and the exciting tools, techniques and technologies which are the way forward.

Highlights of the evening included:

Opening and introduction of the speakers by the Swiss Honorary Consul, Mr. Luiz Gonzaga, who set the tone by saying that in a world full of technology it is gratifying seeing how it can be used to improve and save lives. The goal of the Swiss consulate in São Paulo, is to create opportunities for know-how exchange between both countries.

Dr Charles Schmidt, representing Aliança (the Brazilian association for Clinical Research), presented the roadmap and milestones since 2014, when the first debates started in the Senate regarding changing and simplifying the clinical research laws in Brazil. Today, the "PL200" law has been approved and is in the final stretch for implementation. “We can already see a strong influence on the number of clinical research studies, which has increased since the law was approved in the senate”.

Dr. Carlos Kiffer, of GC2, presented the importance of good practices and structured data on the high cost process of developing a new drug. “To develop a new drug can cost up to $13 Billion. It is possible to put together the pieces of the puzzle that make the process of developing a drug, better cost effective and safer for the patient, by using robust data and good practices.”

Dr. Ana Canzonieri, responsible for the patient interaction and clinical research at the Patient Society of Multiple Sclerosis, ABEM, spoke in the name of more than 3,000 patients in Brazil that are suffering from multiple sclerosis. She said: “2.3 million people are suffering with multiple sclerosis in the world. There is the need to do more for these patients and help them to improve their quality of life. Each of you, who are part of the clinical research process, can make a difference. What are you willing to do?” She showed four videos recordings of patients sharing their living testimonies - detailing how participating in a clinical trial has changed their lives by helping them to return to activity and improving their quality of life.

Dr Bariş Erdoğan, representing the hospitals of the University of Istanbul, presented a success case on how the use of technology has changed and improved the clinical research theatre in that region. “The use of data processing and clinical trial management technology has helped hospitals to increase the number of clinical trials up to five times due to time-efficiency, and has helped to change and save lives by helping to find sometimes 30 times more patients than with the traditional methods of patient recruitment.”

Professor Yagiz Üresin, president-elect of the International Clinical Trial Center Network (ICN) spoke about the goals of the ICN and the benefits of being a member. “One of our main ambitions is to connect and involve researchers and pharmaceutical laboratories from the best clinical trial centers across all the continents and to be able to share knowledge and offer excellence in clinical trials. Brazil has much to offer to the global community of clinical research and we would like to see, in the near future, Brazilian academic institutions sitting side-by-side with the best research centers of the world as members of a reputable group, helping to change and improve the lives of more Brazilian patients.”

Dr. Parera, presented an overview of Brazilian clinical trial regulations on the use of technology to process data and to recruit patients for clinical trials. “According existing regulations on data privacy, when the identity of the patient is not revealed to third parties and the norms are followed, there is nothing blocking the use of technological tools to improve and accelerate the recruitment of patients for clinical trials.”

Luis Magalhaes, representing Clinerion, explained how the Swiss company is technology-based, but operates for the social good. “We are committed to share our state of the art technology and deep knowledge in data processing to help more Brazilian patients to gain access to modern medicine. We improve lives by finding patients for clinical studies that they wouldn’t have access to with the traditional methods of recruiting.”

Bruno Oliveira concluded the evening program by introducing iHealth, the Brazilian partner of Clinerion promoting and implementing the Clinerion technology solution in the country. “In Brazil, at least 40% of all clinical trials fail due to low patient recruitment. Patients want to participate in clinical trials, but, for various reasons, they are not recruited. Imagine how many Brazilian lives we will be able to change by using a system that can find up to 30 times more patients than traditional methods”.

The evening ended with a networking reception where all the participants, including representatives from several public and private hospitals, CROs and pharmaceutical companies, exchanged ideas and discussed the great, new opportunity for the Brazilian clinical research community.